Species (common name, Latin
name)
Western mountain-ash
Sorbus scopulina
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Various forms of Sorbus scopulina (5)
Range
Cascades, east to the
Climate, elevation
Down to sea level in the north, between
1200-2750m in south. (6) Found at
6,500' to 9,000' from the east slope of the
Local occurrence (where, how
common)
Mostly along the E. Cascades (4)
Habitat preferences
S. scopulina inhabits well drained soils along streams, avalanche chutes and rocky hillsides. (3)
Plant strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor,
weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional)
Facultative upland plant, early to mid successional colonizer.
Associated species
Grass: Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex pennsylvanica, C. rossii, Festuca viridula, Juncus drummondii, Elymus glaucus, Poa pratensis, Stipa lemmonii, S. occidentalis. (8)
Trees: Abies amabilis, Pinus
contorta, Tsuga mertensiana,Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, magnifica var.
shastensis, A. procera, Picea englemannii, Populus. (8)
Shrubs: Pachistima myrsinites, Rhododendron macrophyllum, Rubus lasiococcus,
Sorbus scopulina, S. sitchensis, Spiraea sp., Vaccinium membranaceum, V.
scoparium, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Castanopsis chrysophylla, Menziesia
ferruginea, Pachistima myrsinites, Rosa gymnocarpa, Rubus parviflorus, R.
ursinus, Vaccinium alaskaense, V. ovatum, V. parvifolium. (8)
Forbs: Achillea millefolium, Anemone oregana, Pedicularis racemosa, Aster alpigenus, Chimaphila umbellata, Cornus canadensis, Luetkea pectinata, Ligusticum grayi, Linnaea borealis, Lomatium martindalei, Luina stricta, Lupinus bicolor, Pyrola secunda, Senecio triangularis, Smilacina stellata, Tiarella trifoliata, Veratrum viride, Viola orbiculata, V. sempervirens, Xerophyllum tenax. (8)
May be
collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)
Seeds or Cuttings
Collection restrictions or
guidelines
Seed: Ripe berries in large clusters, easily identified and collected in September and transported in plastic bags in cooler. (1)
Cutting:
Late summer semi-hardwood stem cutting collect in early
August. Take from nonflower stem tip shoots. (3)
Seed germination (needs
dormancy breaking?)
Physiological dormancy, berries should be depulped as soon as possible because pulp contains germination inhibitors. Depulp in blender with rubber tubing covering blender blades; wash and float off pulp / juice several times to remove all traces of fruit pulp prior to straining and air-drying on paper towels. (1)(2) Requires 60-100 day cold-moist stratification. (1)
Seed life (can be stored,
short shelf-life, long shelf-life)
Seed reportedly stores well for several years in sealed containers at 6 to 8% moisture content. (1)
Seed longevity is up to 5 years at 3 to 5C with low relative
humidity in sealed containers. (2)
Recommended seed storage
conditions
Seed should be stored at 3to 5C with low relative humidity in sealed containers. (2)
Cuttings should be kept moist and under refrigeration. (3)
Propagation recommendations (plant
seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)
Seed or cutting
Soil or
medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)
Mesic to moist, no inoculum necessary. (5)(7)
Installation form (form,
potential for successful outcomes, cost)
Seed or cutting very successful, and both very cheap.
Recommended planting density
Space 24+ inches. Will form dense thickets. (5)
Care requirements after
installed (water weekly, water once etc.)
Water weekly depending on weather, use well drained soil. (3) Not very drought tolerant. (7)
Normal rate of growth or
spread; lifespan
An erect deciduous shrub growing to 15 feet tall often forming dense thickets. (5)
Sources cited
1. Trindle, Joan DC; Flessner,
Theresa R. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of
container Sorbus scopulina
Greene plants (one-gallon containers);
2. Luna,
3. Luna,
4. Zeidler, Scott; Justin, John.
2003. Propagation protocol for production of field-grown Sorbus
scopulina Greene plants (2+0); Lone Peak Nursery,Utah Division of Forestry,
Fire and
5. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=693
6. http://www.pennine.demon.co.uk/Arboretum/Sosc.htm
7. Utah State Horticulture index found at: http://www.hort.usu.edu/html/shrubs/WesternMtAsh.htm
8. McKenzie Watershed Counsel: Atlas of the Natural Environment. Found at: http://www.mckenziewatershedcouncil.org/mckenzieatlas/veg_types.htm
Data compiled by (student name and date)
Nick Ostrovsky